Is Playing Online Slots Legal in the UK?

For anyone that is considering playing online slots, it can be difficult to know the ins and outs of the law and whether they are allowed to even gamble online.

Many of you will have questions such as “Is playing online slots legal in the UK?” or “is it legal to gamble online in the UK?”

Well, the short answer to both of these questions is yes. Anyone based in the UK is allowed to gamble online as long as they are aged 18 or above.

However, players need to be careful where they gamble on the internet and make sure that they choose online casinos that are licensed and regulated by either the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) or a regulatory authority that meets the same regulatory requirements as the UKGC and is accepted by the UKGC.

In the current climate, this means that only online casinos that are licensed by the UK, Malta, Alderney, Isle of Man, Barbuda, Antigua or Gibraltar.

Any online casino that allows you to gamble that has not received a license from the above is operating illegally and is therefore not regulated. This means that it is likely that the online casino you are playing does not conform to strict rules and regulations as those that are licensed.

To ensure that you are getting a fair deal and are playing in an online gambling environment that is fair, you should always make sure that you play at online casinos that are regulated.

Always do your research before signing up for an online casino and especially before you deposit any money.

Throughout the rest of this blog, we will take you through the ins and outs of online gambling in the UK and the laws and regulations surrounding it.

How Do These Laws And Regulations Protect Players?

The laws in place in the United Kingdom have all been designed to ensure that players have a safer and more regulated environment in which to enjoy their online gambling.

The UKGC has some strict rules and regulations that online casinos that wish to provide their products and services to players in the UK must abide by.

Below are some of the core areas where these laws help to provide a safer and fairer environment for players:

Licensing

Any online casino or another type of gambling site that has been licensed by the UKGC must abide by certain rules and regulations in order to maintain their licensed status.

Furthermore, they must agree to random testing to their gaming equipment and software to ensure that it is operating fairly for players.

The UKGC also operates as a middleman to these online casinos where players can get in touch if they feel they have been treated unfairly.

The UKGC will then investigate and resolve any matters should it be required.

Any online casino that is found to be not adhering to these regulations or is found guilty of committing a serious offence, they are liable to fines, having their license revoked or further action taken against them through the justice system.

Regulation

As we mentioned above, online casinos as part of their licensing accept that they can be randomly tested and audited at the discretion of the UKGC.

Online casinos that have been found to have altered their rates of payouts or anything else that is seen as giving the casino an unfair advantage, will be subject to punishment in the way of fines or the loss of their license.

All testing is carried out by third-party testers that are independent to the UKGC to ensure another layer of protection for players. These testing houses will then report their findings to the UKGC.

Safety

As well as providing a fair environment for players, the UKGC also has regulations and policies in place that forces online casinos to offer a safer environment too.

This means increased security with regards to sophisticated firewalls and 128-bit SSL encryption being used to protect transactions, payment methods and personal, private and financial information of players.

Furthermore, online casinos are instructed to keep all player funds in separate holding accounts from accounts that hold operational funds. This is to protect the balances of players if the casinos were to get into financial trouble.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to feel safer at an online casino that is regulated by the UKGC or another accepted regulatory authority.